Roll-off molding machine



Dec.-14', 1937. w. H. NICHOLLS 2,102,378

ROLL-OFF MOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb, 5, l1936 Patented Dec. 14, 1937UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROLL-OFF MOLDING MACHINE New YorkApplication February 5, 1936, Serial No. 62,523

'l' Ciaims.

The invention relates to foundry equipment and has particular referenceto what is known in the art and to the trade as a jolt, squeeze androll-oit molding machine.

It is well known that machines have been devised embodying means forapplying to a flask any desired number of successive blows or jolts, bysuitably controlled pneumatic means for the purpose of shaking anddistributing the sand properly about the patterns, subsequently to whicha different piston is brought into operation for the purpose ofsqueezing the flask together with the sand and patterns therein so as tocompress the sand nrmly about the patterns and thereby produce sharp andWell defined molds in which high class castings may be made. Somemachines of this general character are also provided with rollersadapted to be brought into engagement with the ask, after the moldingoperation, so that the ask and the molds therein may be rolled off fromthe machine onto other appropriately located rollers ready for removaland the subsequent casting operation.

The present invention relates to machines of the l above mentioned typeand has for its general object the provision of a roll-ofi structurewhich is movably mounted so as to be automatically swung out of the Wayof the flask at certain times and to be swung into operative relation tothe flask for supporting it at the conclusion of the squeezingoperation, the position oi the roll-ofi device being controlled by thatof the top frame and squeeze head.

An important object of the invention is to provide a roll-ofi device ofthis character which may be adjusted so as to permit the use ofdifferent sizes of pattern plates and asks.

Still another object is to provide a device of this character which maybe applied as an attachment to already existing molding machines atpresent or initially unequipped with any roll-on device, the additionsto existing machines being easily made and not involving any seriouschanges.

A more specific object oi the invention is to provide a molding machinewith a roll-oit device including laterally swingable 'bars each equippedwith a series of rollers adapted to be engaged beneath the iiask at theappropriate time for the purpose of enabling it to be slid off onto asuitable trackway without any jarring such as might disurb or break downthe molds Within the flask.

An additional object is to provide a device or structure of thischaracter and for this purpose which will be simple and inexpensive tomanufacture in addition to being easy to apply, positive and automaticinaction, efficient and durable ln service, and a general improvement inthe art.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, theinvention preferably consists in the details of construction and thearrangement and combination of parts to be hereinaiter more fullydescribed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing inwhich:

Figure l is a view partly in side elevation and partly in verticalsection illustrating the machine, a portion of the flask being brokenaway,

Figure 2 is a top plan view with part of the ask and base broken away,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the machine is represented asincluding a base lil formed centrally with a cylinder II and near itsends with guide sockets I2. slidable within the cylinder Il is a squeezepiston I3 formed as a cylinder Within which is in turn slidable a joltpiston i carrying a jolt and squeeze head I5 forming part of or engaginga top frame I6 upon which is adapted to be disposed a pattern carryingplate il upon which rests the flask I8 in which the molding of anydesired patterns is to be carried out. The squeeze and jolt pistons I3and Id, respectively, are adapted to be operated by pneumatic pressure,though said means is not shown for the reason that it is old and Weilknown and may be of any desired type for instance as illustrated in thepatent to J. R. Dunbeck, No. 1,545,817 or in my prior Patent No.1,472,807, the arrangement in said and also in other patents being suchthat the jolt piston I4 is movable independently or the squeeze pistonI3 Whereas both the jolt and squeeze pistons move together during thesqueeze operation.

For guiding purposes, the squeeze head I5 is represented as havingdepending arms I9 carrying guide sleeves or sockets 26 slidablyreceiving pins or rods 2i extending downwardly from the top frame, andthe top frame It is provided With arms 22 having downwardly offset ends23 through which are secured guide rods 2li which are slidable Withinthe sockets I2, these sockets being preferably bushed at 25 and 26 sothat wear can be taken up, it being important that the top frame i3 musthave a smooth movement so as to avoid disturbing the sand after thesqueeze operation is completed and the squeeze head retreats from thetop of the machine.

Though it is not illustrated herein, machines oi this general typeinclude an upstandlng post 'ITI rising from the base and carrying avsw'ingable arm equipped with a pressure head which is verticallyadjustable as by means of a screw connection, for instance asillustrated in the above men'- tioned Dunbeck Patent No. 1,545,817. Thepurpose of such a pressure head is of course to pro- Vide'an abutmentagainst which the top of the sand engages during the squeeze position ofthe machine. From knownrartit is thought that thisl will be quiteapparent.

In carrying out the present invention, the essential feature of which isthe provision of novel roll-off means which will not interferewithdownward movement of the parts at certain times but which will supportthe flask after the molding operation, I provide at each corner of thebase an elongated supporting bracket 21 bolted or cast into place andhaving an outwardly oi'set inter# Vmediate portiondeiining a slot 28.Mounted on each of these brackets is a clevis V29 having a reducedstemportion 30- extending through the slot 28 and carrying a securing nut3`I. These clevises are adjustable along the slots 28 in accordance withthe size of the pattern plate and flask desired to be used.A Pivoted' at32 within each clevis is an upstanding arm 33 normally maintained invertical position by virtue of the provision of a laterally extendingcounter-weight 34,-or its equivalent, engaging a stop 35 on theassociated clevis. At their upper ends the arms 33 at each end of themachine carry horizontally disposed. bars 36 on each of whichis'journaled a series of flanged rolle-rs 31. These bars are outwardlyoffset at their central portions as shown at 38 to accommodate or avoidinterference with the ears 39 and 40 on the pattern plate and ilaskrespectively, which ears are connected by dowel pins 4Il for maintainingthe flask in proper position upon the pattern plate.

When the Varms 33 carrying the rollers 31 are in their verticalpositions they are not in the path of verticaltravel of the patternplate, as clearlyy indicated at the right `of Figure 2 but they are,however, in obstructing relation to downwardl movement of the flask asshown at the left hand of Fig-ure 2inasmuch as the flask projects`somewhat beyond the ends of the pattern' plate. To effect movement ofthe arms outwardly so as to be out of the path of travel of the iiask,Yl-'provide a-t each corner portion of the top frame I6 an elongatedguide or camming member 42 secured in place by studs 43' passingVthrough elongated slots 44, the idea being to provide for adjustment ofthe guides orcamming members in accordance with the adjustedl posi--tions of the olevis members 29. These guide or camming members 42 engageagainst the inner edges of the arms 33 which have their upper portionspartly cut away at 45 to provide inclined cam or wedging surfaces 46',it beingclear that whenV the top frame I6 is in lowered posi-tion theguide or camming members 42 riding over the inclined cam or wedgesurfaces 46 and travelling down the inner edges of the arms 33 to theirlowermost positions indicated by the dot and dash lines at 4-1 in Figure1 will swing the arms 33 outwardly upon their pivots 32, thereby movingthe bars 36 outwardly so that the rollers 3-1 carried thereby will be inthe positions showrl by dot and dash lines in Figure l', the rollersbeing then out of the path of travel of the ilask.

In the use of the machine, it should be understood that at the veryoutset the clevis members 29j must be adjusted along the slots 28 a-ndthat the guide or camming members. 42 mustbe simi'- larly adjusted bymeans of the studs 43 passing through the slots 44, all in accordancewith the size of the pattern plate and flask which are of coursearranged in superposed relation upon the top frame I6 and connected bythe dowels 4|. The desired patterns are supported upon the patern plateI 1 and sand is poured into` the flask I8 so as to surround thepatterns. 'I'he drawing shows the jolt and squeeze head I5, the topframe I6', pattern plate I1 and flask I8 in their positions of maximumelevation. However, the initial position of the parts is their loweredone with the squeeze pistonY I3 at the bottom of the cylinder I I@ andit is at this time that the flask and pattern are, placed in positionand the sand poured into the flask., It should of course be understoodthat at this time, that is to say when the parts I3, I4, I5, I6, I1 andI8 are in their lowered po-V sition thearms 33 carrying the bars 36equipped with the rollers 31 are in their divergent relationship.Whatever control means is provided, not shown as forming no part of thepresent invention andas being old and well known in the art, is thenoperated to admit compressed? air beneath the jolt piston I-4 which ils`caused, likewise by means. old in the art, to reciprocate verticallyrather rapidly for the purpose of jolt-- ing the pattern plate and flaskand thereby set--Y tling the sand about the patterns- Subsequentlytothis, whatever control means is provided is actuated to admit fluidpressure into the squeeze cylinder I I so that the squeeze piston I3,togethery with the then inactive jolt piston I4 willbe forced upwardly,the squeeze head I5 then applying upward pressure against the top frame|16 and through the pattern plate I1r to the sand2 within the flask I8so that the sand will' be thoroughbI compressed about the patterns andbetweenl the pattern plate I1 and the pressurel plate or head, abovereferred to but which is not illustrated asbeing old and well known.This completes the molding operation. As the top frame I'6- movesupwardly to perform the squeeze operation the guide or camming members42 ride off from those portions of the inner edges of the arms 33 belowthe inclined shoulders 46, ride upwardly over the shoulders 46 andagainst the inner edges ofv the cutaway portions 45- at the upper endsof the arms 33. The counter-weights 34 at the lower ends of the arms 33then operate to restore the arms 33 to their vertical positions. Thepneumatic control means isthen operated to release the air pressurebeneath the squeeze pistonv I3- so that this squeeze piston togetherwith the squeeze head I5, top frame I6. and pattern plate I1 may moveydownwardly to the normal or lowered pos-i tion.V However, as the arms 33are thenA vertically disposed the rollers 31 willl be in the path oftravel of the flask I8 which will descend until its ends rest upon therollers so that it may be pushed olf onto whatever trackways or otherguide rollers: are provided at either side of the machine. The remainingparts are permittedl to continue their descent whereupon the guide orcammi'ng members 42 willagain move the arms 33 and rollers 3.1outwardl;7 so thatr the cycle of operations able it to be rolled offwhen the molding operation has been completed. It is thought from theabove that the construction, operation and advantages will be readilyapparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it should be understood that the disclosure is merely anexemplifioation of the principles involved as the right is reserved tomake all such changes in the details of construction as will widen theeld of utility and increase the adaptability of the device provided suchchanges constitute no departure from the' spirit of the invention or thescope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a molding machine including a base carrying a squeeze cylinder, asqueeze piston slidable within said cylinder and formed with a joltcylinder, a jolt piston slidable within said jolt cylinder and carryinga jolt and squeeze head, a top frame supported by said squeeze head,laterally positioned guiding means for said frame, a pattern plateconnected to said frame and normally adapted to engage and support aiiask, roll-off mechanism for said flask comprising a pair of roll barsadapted to underlie adjacent portions of said ilask, arms for pivotallyand adjustably supporting said bars, and adjustable means carried bysaid frame for maintaining said roll bars out of the path of movement ofthe said ask during a portion of the downward movement of said frame.

2. In a molding machine including a base carrying a squeeze cylinder, asqueeze piston slidable within said cylinder and formed with a joltcylinder, a jolt piston slidable within said jolt cylinder and carryinga jolt and squeeze head, a top frame supported by said squeeze head,laterally positioned guiding means for said frame, a pattern plateconnected to said frame and normally adapted to engage and support aask, roll-01T mechanism for said flask comprising a pair of barscarrying rollers positioned on opposite sides of said squeeze head, eachof said bars having an oiset portion to clear said adjacent frameguiding means, and arms for pivotally and adjustably supporting saidbars, and adjustable means carried by said frame for maintaining saidbars out of the path of movement of said ask during a portion of thedownward movement of said frame.

3. In a molding machine including a base carrying a squeeze cylinder, asqueeze piston slidable within said cylinder and formed with a joltcylinder, a jolt piston slidable within said jolt cylinder and carryinga jolt and squeeze head, a top frame above the squeeze head supporting apattern plate carrying a flask, upstanding arms pivoted on the machine,a roll bar carried by each pair of said arms, means tending to normallymaintain said arms in position with said roll bars in the path ofdownward movement of the flask, and means carried by said squeeze headand adapted to engage said arms to force the same out of the path ofdownward movement of said head after a predetermined movement of saidhead, and means carried by said arms for continually urging said armsinto load supporting position.

4. In a molding machine including a base carrying a squeeze cylinder, asqueeze piston slidable within said cylinder and formed with a joltcylinder, a jolt piston slidable within said jolt cylinder and carryinga jolt and squeeze head, a top frame supported by said squeeze head,laterally positioned guiding means for said frame, a pattern platesupported on said frame and adapted to normally engage and support aask, roll-ofi mechanism for said flask comprising a pair of roll barsand a pair of arms for pivotally and adjustably supporting each of saidbars, means continually urging said roll bars into ask engagingposition, and means carried by said frame and movable therewith forforcing said bars out of ask supporting position upon downward movementof said squeeze head to normal position.

5. In a molding machine including a base carrying a squeeze cylinder, asqueeze piston slidable within said cylinder and formed With a joltcylinder, a jolt piston slidable within said jolt cylinder and carryinga jolt and squeeze head, a top frame above the squeeze head supporting apattern plate carrying a flask, upstanding arms pivoted on the machine,a plurality of roll bars carried by said arms, means carried by the armsfor normally maintaining said roll bars in the path of downward movementof the ask, and means operating upon downward movement of said top frameto swing said arms outwardly to move said rollers out of flask engagingposition, the pivots of said arms and the means carried by said topframe and cooperating with the arms for moving them being bothadjustable laterally to accord with iiasks of different dimensions.

6. In a molding machine, a base, a top frame carrying a pattern platefor supporting a flask, jolt and squeeze means reacting against said topframe, brackets mounted on the base, pivot elements laterally slidablyadjustable along said brackets toward and from each other, upstandingarms pivoted on said pivot elements, guide members mounted on the topframe and reacting against said arms for swinging the same laterally outof the path of travel of the flask, and means for adjusting said guidemembers toward or from each other to .accord with the adjustability ofsaid pivot elements.

7. In a molding machine, a base, a top frame carrying a pattern platesupporting a ask, jolt and squeeze means reacting against said topframe, and roll-oil means comprising longitudinally slotted bracketsmounted in a horizontal position upon the base, bolts extendingvertically through said slotted brackets and adjustable therealong,upstanding arms pivoted on said bolts and formed with inclined surfaces,the arms on each side of the machine carrying bars, rollers mounted onsaid bars, guide members mounted in horizontal positions upon the topframe for coaction with said inclined surfaces for moving said arms outof the path of travel of said flask, and means for adjusting thepositions of said guide members in accordance with the adjustment ofsaid pivot bolts to enable the parts to accommodate ilasks of differentsizes.

WILLIAM HENRY NICHOLLS.

